It is the query that will get requested all through the FA Cup each single yr.
The bottom-ranked remaining staff within the FA Cup, in no matter spherical, all the time has a particular highlight shone on them. Golf equipment ideally need to be drawn in opposition to them and concurrently virtually everybody else needs to see them win their subsequent recreation.
As England’s well-known home competitors progresses, the lowest-ranked staff tends to get knocked out and a brand new underdog takes centre stage, till invariably one of many large groups wins the match. It isn’t all the time that easy, and maybe this would be the yr when a non-league facet will get to Wembley.
For the third spherical of the 2023/24 FA Cup, Maidstone United are the largest underdogs left nonetheless standing. They play within the Nationwide League South, the sixth tier of English soccer.
Having reached the third spherical, Maidstone United have already loved their greatest FA Cup run since 1987. In each 1983/84 and 1986/87, they reached the identical stage however have been overwhelmed by Darlington after which Watford.
Since then, Maidstone have made it to the second spherical on 5 totally different events, the latest being the 2019/20 season the place Blackpool beat them 3-1. The change in high quality of opponents may be stark within the second spherical and that’s the place so most of the final non-league groups are eradicated.
As a Nationwide League South facet, Maidstone United’s FA Cup journey began in September within the second qualifying spherical. They have been away at Steyning City to start with and comfortably gained that recreation 4-1.
That arrange one other away journey within the third qualifying spherical, this time in opposition to Winchester Metropolis. Additionally they cruised by that conflict, successful 2-0 on the finish of September. Torquay United have been subsequent, with a spot within the first spherical correct on the road. One other 2-0 away win arrange one more away tie in opposition to Chesham United, which additionally ended 2-0 to Maidstone.
Attending to the second spherical inevitably got here with a recreation in opposition to a facet at the least one division up they usually ended up being drawn at house to Barrow, presently fourth in League Two. There’s a large hole between the 2 sides, however a 74th-minute winner from Bivesh Gurung ensured a 2-1 win and a spot within the third spherical.
|
Date / Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Spherical |
Fixture |
|---|---|---|
|
16/09/2023 / 15:00 |
Second qualifying spherical |
Steyning City 1-4 Maidstone United |
|
30/09/2023 / 15:00 |
Third qualifying spherical |
Winchester Metropolis 0-2 Maidstone United |
|
14/10/2023 / 15:00 |
Fourth qualifying spherical |
Torquay United 0-2 Maidstone United |
|
04/11/2023 / 15:00 |
First spherical |
Chesham United 0-2 Maidstone United |
|
02/12/2023 / 15:00 |
Second spherical |
Maidstone United 2-1 Barrow |
|
06/01/2023 / 12:30 |
Third spherical |
Maidstone United vs Stevenage |
Every time a non-league staff makes it to the third spherical of the FA Cup, there are blended emotions about who they need to need to face.
A televised tie in opposition to one of many largest Premier League groups could be a monetary blessing, however there will even be the will for a winnable tie so the staff can go one spherical additional, the place there may be one other probability to face an enormous facet.
Whereas Maidstone are nonetheless actually the underdogs of their third-round tie, they’ve gone down the latter route as they’ll host Stevenage, who’re presently seventh in League One.
Being at house is a lift for Maidstone however they’re taking part in a staff two divisions above them and it will be a disgrace to exit with out attending to face a Premier League staff.
